Presidential Impeachment Review Session: KMT Hopes Nation Returns to Right Track, TPP Wants to 'Wake Up' President
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan is reviewing an impeachment motion against President Lai Ching-te, who did not attend the session. KMT legislators called for cross-party support to bring the Republic of China back on track, while TPP legislators stated the motion aims to 'wake up' the President who has squandered public support.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 13:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 13:31 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 14:08 (36 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporters Wang Yang-yu, Chen Chun-hua, Taipei, May 13) The Legislative Yuan's plenary committee today reviewed the impeachment motion against President Lai Ching-te, who was not present. Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Hsu Yu-jen called on all parties to support the impeachment motion to bring the Republic of China back on track. Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Hsu Chung-hsin said President Lai Ching-te had squandered the people's support, and the impeachment motion was intended to 'wake up' the President.
After Premier Cho Jung-tai announced he would not countersign the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, KMT and TPP legislators initiated impeachment proceedings against President Lai. According to the schedule, the Legislative Yuan will hold its second review session on May 13 and 14, with a vote on the impeachment motion on May 19.
Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny Chiang, who presided over the meeting, stated that the Legislative Yuan, in accordance with the Act Governing the Exercise of Legislative Powers, invited the impeached person, President Lai Ching-te, to attend and provide an explanation. After contact, the Presidential Office stated that the President would not attend this plenary committee, and thus the subsequent procedures would proceed with committee members nominated by each party caucus speaking.
Today's review session saw nine legislators speak, all from the KMT and TPP.
KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang stated that without checks and balances, there is no democracy, and checks and balances are the greatest iron rule of democratic politics. When President Lai promoted a 'total decapitation' style of 'major recall,' both blue and green camps had signature flaws. The KMT party headquarters involved in recalling green legislators were searched, and party workers were investigated and detained, while groups recalling blue legislators faced no issues. He claimed 'Lai-style investigations' have become a knife for the ruling party to purge the opposition and a shield to protect corruption.
KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao said that Taiwan's democracy is being destroyed bit by bit by President Lai. Apart from the Legislative Yuan, which still has some voice for checks and balances, the other four branches of government have been 'cabinetized.' He asserted, 'Based on this alone, President Lai could be impeached N times.'
TPP Legislator Hsu Chung-hsin stated that after President Lai was elected, there was an expectation that he could unite the ruling and opposition parties. However, unexpectedly, President Lai did not adopt a coalition government and even launched a major recall campaign. After the failure of the major recall, he not only failed to reflect but also listened to scholars and invented the practice of 'non-countersignature.' He argued that President Lai had squandered the people's support, and the impeachment motion was intended to 'wake up' the President.
KMT Legislator Chen Ching-hui said that the President of the Republic of China cannot override the constitution just by being elected, and the Legislative Yuan is certainly not a rubber stamp for the Presidential Office. She urged all citizens to support the presidential impeachment motion.
KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-jen stated that President Lai has '12 major offenses.' To protect Taiwan's future and return a country of rule of law, fairness, and peace to the next generation, she called on all conscientious legislators to rise up and support the impeachment of President Lai, allowing the Republic of China to return to the right track.
KMT Legislator Huang Chien-pin said that the ruling party cannot, in the name of public opinion, override the constitutional order. Moreover, an impeachment motion is the last constitutional defense that the people can rely on when power is imbalanced and governance is disorderly.
According to the Additional Articles of the Constitution, an impeachment motion against the President or Vice President by the Legislative Yuan requires a proposal by one-half of all legislators and a resolution by two-thirds or more, followed by an application for review by the Grand Justices of the Judicial Yuan. If the Constitutional Court reviews the case and two-thirds or more of the incumbent Grand Justices agree, the impeachment motion is established, and the impeached person is removed from office.
The Legislative Yuan currently has 113 legislators. Based on the seats of each party in the parliament, the KMT, plus independent legislators Chen Chao-ming and Kao Chin Su-mei who participate in the KMT caucus, totals 54 seats. The DPP has 51 seats, and the TPP has 8 seats. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150513
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(Central News Agency reporters Wang Yang-yu, Chen Chun-hua, Taipei, May 13) The Legislative Yuan's plenary committee today reviewed the impeachment motion against President Lai Ching-te, who was not present. Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Hsu Yu-jen called on all parties to support the impeachment motion to bring the Republic of China back on track. Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Hsu Chung-hsin said President Lai Ching-te had squandered the people's support, and the impeachment motion was intended to 'wake up' the President.
After Premier Cho Jung-tai announced he would not countersign the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, KMT and TPP legislators initiated impeachment proceedings against President Lai. According to the schedule, the Legislative Yuan will hold its second review session on May 13 and 14, with a vote on the impeachment motion on May 19.
Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny Chiang, who presided over the meeting, stated that the Legislative Yuan, in accordance with the Act Governing the Exercise of Legislative Powers, invited the impeached person, President Lai Ching-te, to attend and provide an explanation. After contact, the Presidential Office stated that the President would not attend this plenary committee, and thus the subsequent procedures would proceed with committee members nominated by each party caucus speaking.
Today's review session saw nine legislators speak, all from the KMT and TPP.
KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang stated that without checks and balances, there is no democracy, and checks and balances are the greatest iron rule of democratic politics. When President Lai promoted a 'total decapitation' style of 'major recall,' both blue and green camps had signature flaws. The KMT party headquarters involved in recalling green legislators were searched, and party workers were investigated and detained, while groups recalling blue legislators faced no issues. He claimed 'Lai-style investigations' have become a knife for the ruling party to purge the opposition and a shield to protect corruption.
KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao said that Taiwan's democracy is being destroyed bit by bit by President Lai. Apart from the Legislative Yuan, which still has some voice for checks and balances, the other four branches of government have been 'cabinetized.' He asserted, 'Based on this alone, President Lai could be impeached N times.'
TPP Legislator Hsu Chung-hsin stated that after President Lai was elected, there was an expectation that he could unite the ruling and opposition parties. However, unexpectedly, President Lai did not adopt a coalition government and even launched a major recall campaign. After the failure of the major recall, he not only failed to reflect but also listened to scholars and invented the practice of 'non-countersignature.' He argued that President Lai had squandered the people's support, and the impeachment motion was intended to 'wake up' the President.
KMT Legislator Chen Ching-hui said that the President of the Republic of China cannot override the constitution just by being elected, and the Legislative Yuan is certainly not a rubber stamp for the Presidential Office. She urged all citizens to support the presidential impeachment motion.
KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-jen stated that President Lai has '12 major offenses.' To protect Taiwan's future and return a country of rule of law, fairness, and peace to the next generation, she called on all conscientious legislators to rise up and support the impeachment of President Lai, allowing the Republic of China to return to the right track.
KMT Legislator Huang Chien-pin said that the ruling party cannot, in the name of public opinion, override the constitutional order. Moreover, an impeachment motion is the last constitutional defense that the people can rely on when power is imbalanced and governance is disorderly.
According to the Additional Articles of the Constitution, an impeachment motion against the President or Vice President by the Legislative Yuan requires a proposal by one-half of all legislators and a resolution by two-thirds or more, followed by an application for review by the Grand Justices of the Judicial Yuan. If the Constitutional Court reviews the case and two-thirds or more of the incumbent Grand Justices agree, the impeachment motion is established, and the impeached person is removed from office.
The Legislative Yuan currently has 113 legislators. Based on the seats of each party in the parliament, the KMT, plus independent legislators Chen Chao-ming and Kao Chin Su-mei who participate in the KMT caucus, totals 54 seats. The DPP has 51 seats, and the TPP has 8 seats. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150513
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The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.